Tasty Tuesday

One of my family's favorite treats is homemade chocolate chips cookies.  We make then quite often in our house.  When my husband and I first married and I would make homemade cookies, it was very hit or miss if they would come out or not.  I have also heard many friends say that their cookies don't always come out.  So today I want to share the cookie recipe that I use as well as a few tips I have learned over the years.


The recipe I use is on the back of the Nestle Tollhouse chips:


2 1/4 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 c. (2 sticks) butter softened (but not melted)
3/4 c. granulated sugar
3/4 c. packed golden brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 bag of Nestle Tollhouse chocolate chips


Preheat oven to 375*


Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in small bowl.  Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla until creamy.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each egg.  Gradually beat in flour mixture.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Drop by spoonful onto ungreased baking sheet.  Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes then on wire rack to cool completely.


Some tips I have learned over the years:


1.) I am normally all about off brand and saving money.  But I have found with homemade cookies, you need those name brands.  I will only use C&H golden brown sugar and McCormick vanilla extract.  When I use an off brand of one of these, the cookies do not turn out.  Go name brand!


2.) Measure.  Don't guess.  Measure your ingredients out exactly.


3.) Let baking sheet cool completely before putting another dozen onto the sheet to bake.


4.) We do not like flat cookies, we like them fluffy.  Instead of the above 2 1/4 c. of flour, I use 3 c.


5.) For a different taste, occasionally substitute the chocolate chips for things like: chocolate and peanut butter chips, Hershey bars broken into the little squares or Andes mint baking chips.


6.) Let the kids help and have fun!


What are some of your baking tips?

Sweet Blessings~